Questions tagged [stative-verbs]
Stative verbs, and verbs being used to describe a state, generally don't use the continuous form. So stative uses like "I know" and "I have" are correct, but "I am knowing" and "I am having" are incorrect. A verb that has both stative and active meanings is not used in the continuous form when it has the stative sense. This tag should also be used for questions comparing dynamic with stative verbs.
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Can the verb "be' be a dynamic verb?
I have read from many sources that 'be,' 'seem,' and 'become,' are always linking verbs. But I have seen a few sources mentioning 'be' as occasionally a dynamic verb as well.
If 'be' is always a ...
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How do you feel ? and How are you feeling?
Why a state verb FEEL is used in How are you feeling? question? I know it has also a dynamic meaning - touch or exemine -but in this question the meaning is different, in`t it
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Adverb of duration
an adverb of duration can tell us how long somebody does something for example:
all morning/all night
all week/ all month
for days /for weeks
The whole time
So I want to know which tense we can ...
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The hill was covered by/with snow. [dynamic or stative]
(1) The hill was covered by snow.
(2) The hill was covered with snow.
Question: Is the following explanation correct?
Sentence (1) is a dynamic passive sentence.
Sentence (2) is a stative passive ...
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Snow <covered> the hills. [dynamic or stative]
Snow covered the hills. (source)
Question: Is "covered" a dynamic verb or a stative verb?
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stative verb + now?
In the present tense, I know that stative verbs usually don't work with present progressive. But what about stative verbs + now ?
For example, I'm hungry and I'm hungry now. I love you and I love you ...
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Stative vs. dynamic verbs
From Wikipedia:
According to some linguistics theories, a stative verb is a verb that describes a state of being, in contrast to a dynamic verb, which describes an action.
That is, stative verbs ...
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Why is the present simple not possible here? (cost)
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
This weekend costs / is costing me a fortune — but it’s worth it.
It is asked to choose the correct or more natural form of cost.
The correct answer is ...
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Why is only the present continuous appropriate here?
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
So, Matt, how are things with you? You look very well. I hear you (do) OK for yourself.
The context is “. . . conversation between two ex-colleagues who ...
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Why is the present continuous possible here? (look)
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
So, Matt, how are things with you? You (look) very well.
The context is “. . . conversation between two ex-colleagues who have not seen each other for ...
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Which one of the present simple and present continuous to use with stative verbs?
My textbook explains that “we use the present simple with states or situations that exist at the present moment.” As an example the textbook gives the following sentence:
This cake tastes wonderful. ...
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When one can use LAST in the continuous form?
TO LAST is usually stative, so it's usually used in the present/past simple. But I am sure there are exceptions. Do these make sense?
This speech is lasting longer than it usually would.
This hot ...
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Can we use the verb “ache” verb in continuous constructions like “is aching“?
Does it sound ok to use the ‑ing form of the intransitive verb ache meaning hurt?
My stomach is aching.
instead of the simple verb:
My stomach aches.
In other words, can we use the verb ache verb ...
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How do you feel vs How are you feeling
Is there a subtle difference in meaning or usage between How do you feel and How are you feeling?
I could use these to ask about someone's health, state of mind or about their opinion on something.
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'see' in continuous form to express having a romantic relationship
The question is from BBC Towards Advanced
Q: In which of these sentences are Camille and Philippe in a romantic relationship?
A) Camille has been seeing Philippe for a few months.
B) Camille and ...
user138449
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Can stative verbs be completed?
Action(dinamic) verbs are presented in 2 different forms:
The progressive which means that the action is not completed(finished) and the perfect which means that the action is completed.
Action verbs ...
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he has experience in both criminal and civil litigation
”I think he will appreciate the enormous difference between participating in the justice system as an advocate and becoming one who is responsible for making just law and accurate determinations,” ...
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He has been having headaches for the past ten days
What is the difference between:
He has been having headaches for the past ten days.
He has had headaches for the past ten days.
Is the main verb "have" of sentences (1) and (2) a ...
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I lack confidence vs I am lacking in confidence?
I lack confidence
I am lacking in confidence
What's the difference in meaning between the two?
Also, does lacking place emphasis on present state of lackingness (partial continuity)
Is there a vessel ...
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'Knowing' a stative verb?
They might not be knowing it.
Is 'knowing' a verb here? If yes, why is it considered a stative verb if it has a progressive meaning?
This is why I said knowing the meaning of it is hard.
Also here ...
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How can I make a question of a state?
For action, we say, ‘what are you doing’? But when I wonder about a state or condition of someone, how should I express?
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"You will want to..." vs. "you will be wanting to..."
Could you tell me what the difference in meaning between you will want to and you will be wanting to is? For example in the ninth episode of the second season of Rick and Morty, an alien said the ...
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Interrogative form for the status related sentence
Which one is the correct interrogative form of the below sentence:
This proxy server is an Apache-Http instance.
Is this proxy server an Apache-Http instance?
OR
Does this ...
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Is "to mean"an active or stative verb?
Is it grammatically correct to write : "I've been meaning to write to you for ages now "?
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What is the subtle difference between "I hope" and "I'm hoping"?
What is the subtle difference between I hope and I'm hoping? For example:
I'm going to the park tomorrow, so I hope it won't rain.
I'm going to the park tomorrow, so I'm hoping it won't rain.
I hope ...
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can "could have" be either a past modal/auxiliary form as well as a stative form of have?
Consider the phrase, "is it possible, we could have rain (or rainy weather) on Saturday". This doesn't seem to be a past modal form as there is no verb it modifies, so seems more like a ...
Tandy
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Suspect in past continuous (were suspecting )
In my understanding 'suspect' is a stative verb, therefore is not used in continuous times. But I came across the following sentences: "I suggested to the team that what we were really suspecting ...
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"I hear what you are saying" vs. "I am hearing what you are saying"
As this dictionary puts it I hear what you are saying means to acknowledge what someone has said. But in the 13th episode of the 7th season of Friends Phoebe said I am hearing what you are saying. ...
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"I see" vs. "I am seeing" in the sense of receiving information through the sense of sight
Grammar books say that when we are talking about being able to see something, the verb see is used in the present simple. But in the 11th episode of the 3rd episode of Friends, Chandler used it in the ...
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"I hear" vs. "I am hearing" in context
Let's say my friend and I are at his place alone. and and all of a sudden music starts to play in the living room, which is imposible because I am sure we are totally alone. So I start to think that I ...
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What is the difference in meaning between "I think" and "I am thinking" in the sense of having an opinion?
What is the difference in meaning between I think and I am thinking in the sense of having an opinion? Grammar books say that it isn't correct to use the verb think in the present continuous in that ...
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"If you think that..." vs. "if you are thinking that..."
Is there any difference in meaning between if you think that... and if you are thinking that...? I am aware that when the verb think is used in the sense of having an opinion it is used in the present ...
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What is the difference in meaning between "I wish" and "I am wishing"?
As this article says wish can be used in informal speech in the continuous tense, which was done in the 15th episode of the 5th season of the TV show Friends. Here is the excerpt:
Monica: (kneels ...
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What is the difference in meaning between "I agree" and "I am agreeing"?
I am aware of the fact that the standard way of using agree is in the Present Simple. And until recently I thought it's only correct to use it that way when talking about present situations. But in ...
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"I have a thought" vs "I am having a thought"?
Tell me please if it's correct to use have in the progressive with thought.
I am having a thought that there might be something wrong.
If it's perfectly grammatical, then how would it be ...
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The use of the verb "think" in the progressive form in the sense of having some kind of opinion on something
I am aware that the verb think can be used in the progressive form in some contexts, but it cannot be used in the progressive when someone is expressing one's opinion. But in this video a stand-up ...
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"I have class" or "I am having class" in context
Let's say I am a student and at this very moment I am being taught math and someone is calling me and asks what are you doing. Is correct to say the following?
I am having math class.
And by the ...
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"Someone has a relationshio with someone" or "someone is having a relationship with someone"?
Do I have to use have in the present simple or present continuous when talking about being in a relationship. For example:
Kate has a relationship with the guy.
Kate is having a ralationship ...
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Is it natural to use the verb "want" in the continuous form to express a strong desire for something or to do something?
I am aware that the verb want is a stative verb and many grammar books and teachers say it is correct to use it in the continuous form. But as is the case with lot of stative cases, there some ...
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Can "prefer" be used as a dynamic (non-stative) verb?
My friend had a homework exercise about stative verbs in their English class and asked me to help with it. The task was to mark sentences that were correct. There was one difficult sentence there:
...
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Is the word 'remind' is stative verb? (remind vs. reminding)
Is the word remind a stative verb? (which means that even if I'm talking about something that's happening right now, I still have to use this infinitive verb without turning it into present continuous ...
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Is "become" both stative and dynamic verb
Since it is OK to say "The house is becoming more expensive", become can be a dynamic verb for dynamic verbs allow the progressive tense. I wonder if become is also considered as a stative verb.
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I am finding it/ I find it difficult to understand English [closed]
I am finding it dificult to understand English
I find it difficul to understand English
When the power broke down, I found it difficult to feel the switch.So my daughter helped me
...
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What is the appropriate tense for factual statements after a stative verb in the past tense?
Assuming that cats are evil (they aren't), which is the correct way of saying this?
"I believed that cats are evil."
"I believed that cats were evil."
My confusion arises because I want to express ...
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Can Present Perfect with a stative verb be used to describe a finished action?
I learned that if a stative verb was used in present perfect form, this would indicate an unfinished/continuing action, i.e "I have liked pasta since I was a baby."
However, there are also cases such ...
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Can I use "being" with "keep"?
Action verbs used with "keep" sound normal, like "keep doing," "keep smiling," etc., but "being" sounds weird with it.
For example, this:
I won't talk to you if you keep being rude.
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"Are you hearing me" Vs. "Do you hear me"?
When I learnt English grammar I was told that some of the senses don't get "ing" of present continuous, therefore we should say "I see it now" rather than "I'm seeing it now&...
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Correct use of stative verbs
My question is what is correct to say :
This concerns you.
This is concerning you.
zgahndour Gahndour
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is the verb "lie" in the sense of telling lies always stative?
I was watching Lord of the Rings, and in the scene where the ork said that Aragorn had fallen off the cliff, Legolas said: "you lie". Why did he say it in the present simple time?
Wouldn't the present ...
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Stative verbs with present perfect simple
First of all,
1. Can I use stative verbs with the present perfect simple? For example, know is a stative verb, Can I say:
Have you known my real name is John?
In sentence about I meant to ask, *...
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